Suspended prison term in arson case

August 15, 2019

LeRoy Thomas Paul Hayes III, 32, Waterloo, entered an Alford Plea to a charge of 2nd degree arson. An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt but recognizes the prosecution is believed to have enough evidence to obtain a conviction in court. He was sentenced to a suspended 10-year prison term and was placed on supervised probation to the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services for three years. He was directed to pay the supervision enrollment fee.

Hayes was also ordered to reside in a community correctional facility for up to one year. A $1,000 fine and court costs totaling $440 were suspended. He was also directed to pay any restitution due.

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LeRoy Thomas Paul Hayes III

Charges of driving while barred and failure to maintain control of vehicle were dismissed.

Hayes was charged on Nov. 20, 2018, with driving while barred following a vehicle accident at Tama County roads K Avenue and 160th Street by Deputy Sheriff Casey Schmidt. Court records state when the deputy arrived on the scene the vehicle was in ditch and fully engulfed in flames. On Nov. 30 the charge of 2nd degree arson was filed in a county attorney's information.